Why sixteenth-century Spanish reformers chose to walk without shoes to restore their faith

Music · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The Discalced Carmelites emerged from a desire to return to the simple, eremitic roots of their order. By adopting a life of extreme austerity, silence, and perpetual prayer, these reformers sought to escape the worldly compromises that had diluted their original mission during the turbulent centuries of the late Middle Ages.

The Carmelite Order traces its origins to the thirteenth century, when hermits gathered on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land. Inspired by the prophet Elijah, these early pilgrims lived in solitude, poverty, and prayer. However, after being forced to migrate to Europe around 1238, the order underwent significant changes. Over the following centuries, political and social upheavals—including the Black Plague and the Protestant Reformation—led to a mitigation of their original rule, causing the order to drift away from its contemplative foundations.

In the sixteenth century, Teresa of Ávila sought to restore this authentic mission. In 1560, she began planning a new monastery, drawing inspiration from the primitive traditions of Carmel and the reform movements of the time. On 24 August 1562, she established the Convent of St. Joseph in Ávila. The term 'Discalced'—meaning 'without shoes'—signified this commitment to poverty and asceticism. Shortly after, in 1568, John of the Cross and Anthony of Jesus founded the first convent for friars in Duruelo, cementing the movement's structure.

The Discalced Carmelites were formally established as a separate province in 1580 by Pope Gregory XIII. While they remained connected to the broader Carmelite Order, they gained the autonomy to elect their own superiors and author their own constitutions. Today, the order balances this contemplative heritage with active ministry. Friars and nuns dedicate hours each day to silent, mental prayer, while friars also serve in parishes, schools, and retreat centers, adapting their work to the spiritual needs of the communities they inhabit.

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